Package for a fluid

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a package ( 1 ) for a fluid. The package ( 1 ) comprises a container body ( 2 ) provided with an opening ( 26 ) and, near said opening ( 26 ), a flanged edge ( 5 ) provided with a recessed outflow channel ( 12 ). A linear weakened or broken zone ( 15 ) is provided in the flanged edge ( 5 ). A separation part can ( 16 ) be or is separated from the flanged edge ( 5 ). The package ( 1 ) further comprises a sealing foil ( 10 ) which sealingly bonds to at least a part of the flanged edge ( 5 ), including the separation part ( 16 ) thereof, which sealing foil ( 10 ) covers the outflow channel ( 17 ), which outflow channel ( 17 ) is entirely provided on the side of the weakened or broken zone ( 15 ) remote from the separation part ( 16 ), wherein the sealing foil ( 10 ) has a release area ( 23 ) that extends on the inner side of the weakened or broken zone, within which release area ( 23 ) at least the closed end ( 14 ) of the outflow channel ( 12 ) is located, wherein the release area is bounded by a boundary line located opposite the weakened or broken zone ( 15 ), which crosses the flow channel ( 12 ).

The present invention relates to a package for a fluid. The invention particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a package for liquid food products such as coffee creamer, ketchup, mayonnaise or other sauces. The interior volume of such a package usually suffices for accommodating a few millilitres to a few centilitres of a fluid. Such packages are usually mass products of the disposable type, which are generally used once only as portion packs. The packages according to the invention can in principle also be used for packaging product types other than food products, for example glues, paint materials, toothpaste, shampoos, liquid soap or cream.

A number of aspects are to be considered in the design of such packages. On the one hand, there is the understandable aim to produce the packages at the lowest possible cost price. The use of raw materials plays a part, but also, for example, the speed and the cost of the machines by means of which the packages can be produced in an automated manner. In general it is in any case advantageous if a new type of package can be produced on existing, preferably standard machines, so that there is no need for large investments in costly and/or new production machines and/or tools to be used in combination therewith.

In addition to that it is essential that a package be functional. Ease of use and, connected therewith, a user's intuitive sense of how to open a package are important aspects in that regard. Existing packages usually do not score high on these aspects, the result being that the liquid contents of a package unexpectedly flow out upon opening the package, for example, or that the consumer is insufficiently able to have the contents of the package flow out of the package in a controlled manner after having opened the package. As a result, a consumer will easily tend to choose a different type of package in the future.

The object of the present invention is to provide a package which can be produced at a relatively low cost price and which, in addition, is very user-friendly. In order to accomplish that object, the invention provides a package as defined in claim 1.

The package for a fluid according to the present invention comprises a container body having an interior volume and being provided with an opening, wherein the package comprises a flanged edge near the opening, in which a recessed outflow channel is formed, which outflow channel is in communication with the interior of the container body via said opening at one end and which is closed at an opposite end, wherein a linear weakened or broken zone is provided in the flanged edge so as to make it possible to separate a separation part of the flanged edge located on the outer side of said weakened or broken zone from the container, said package further comprising a sealing foil which sealingly bonds to at least a part of the flanged edge, including the separation part thereof, which sealing foil covers the outflow channel, which outflow channel is entirely provided on the side of the weakened or broken zone remote from the separation part, wherein the sealing foil has a release area that extends on the inner side of the weakened or broken zone, within which release area at least the closed end of the outflow channel is located, wherein the release area is bounded by a boundary line located opposite the weakened or broken zone, which crosses the flow channel. At the location of the boundary line, the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by a permanent bond.

At the location of the release area, the sealing foil bonds to the flanged edge, said bond being of the releasable type. The release area is at least partially adjacent to the weakened or broken zone.

It is conceivable for the separation part and the other part of the container to be integrally connected, in which case the weakened zone makes it possible to break said integral connection. It is also possible, however, for the separation part to be completely separate from the other part of the container, that is, the separation part is only connected to the sealing foil, thus forming a broken zone.

The above aspects of a package according to the invention make it possible to provide a package that can be handled, in particular opened, in a very intuitive manner, which makes the package very user-friendly. As it is, opening the package can be done by first separating the separation part from the container, if a weakened zone is provided. During said separation, the package in fact remains closed, since the sealing foil still covers the recessed outflow channel. The risk of unexpected spillage upon separation of the separation part is minimal. If a broken zone is provided, the separation part can readily move, without any risk of unintentional opening, because the release area is at least partially adjacent to the broken zone, so that there is a bond at the location of the broken zone.

In any case, the closed (at least in the starting situation) end of the outflow channel, and thus the package, can then be simply opened by detaching the sealing foil at least within the release area by moving the separation part with the sealing foil away from the container from the weakened or broken zone in the direction of the boundary line located opposite the weakened or broken zone up to the boundary line, so that the sealing foil is removed from the flanged edge as far as the boundary line. As a result, the aforesaid, initially covered end of the outflow channel becomes accessible and the contents of the package can exit the package in a controlled manner via the outflow channel. Moreover, a possibility is provided to configure the package such that it can be produced by means of existing production equipment, for example in that the configuration corresponds to those of already existing packages, for example coffee creamer cups. At the location of the boundary line, the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by a permanent bond. Such a boundary line, which does not correspond to the line defined by the weakened zone, therefore, can prevent the sealing foil from being detached too far, that is, beyond the outflow channel, seen from the weakened zone, which might lead to the loss of the advantageous metering properties obtained by the use of an outflow channel.

The container body is preferably made of polypropylene and preferably comprises several layers of material.

In one embodiment, the container body comprises an endless upright circumferential wall which, at least in an open condition of the package, is deformable under the influence of an axial pressure force applied to the circumferential wall for reducing the volume of the package for the purpose of emptying the package at least partially. In this way precise metering is possible. If the container body is made of polypropylene, the wall will hardly tend to spring back after being deformed, if at all, so that second or further metering can take place in a quick and precise manner after initial metering concerning only a part of the total contents. The fact is that metering is directly possible upon application of a pressure force.

In particular in the case of a container made of polypropylene, it is preferable if the separation part is entirely separated from the flanged edge for thus forming the linear broken zone. The fact is that polypropylene is difficult to break, so that opening via a weakened zone is more difficult. This may play a part with other materials as well, to such an extent that it may be preferable to use a broken zone.

It will add to the ease of use if the boundary line extends parallel to the linear shape of the weakened zone. Thus, a strip of the sealing foil can be detached from the flanged edge via two parallel opposite sides, thereby releasing at least the closed end of the outflow channel.

If the outflow channel is oriented perpendicularly to the linear shape of the weakened zone, at least at the closed end thereof, this provides the advantage that the outflow channel is oriented in the direction from which the outflow channel is opened in use, as it were.

The use of the package is simplified in particular if the flanged edge has a part that projects relative to the other part of the package, which projecting part comprises the separation part and which extends in the direction in which the outflow channel extends from the interior of the container body. The projecting part will be intuitively regarded as the part of the package that is to be engaged for opening the package.

Engaging the separation part is facilitated if the separation part has a circumference that extends concavely opposite the weakened zone. In said concave part, an index finger will fit, for example.

Engaging the separation part is also facilitated if the separation part has a circumference, and wherein the separation part has a projecting engagement edge near that part of the circumference which is located opposite the weakened zone.

It is furthermore advantageous if the release area is at least partially clear of the flanged edge, wherein the release area is surrounded by a surface where there is indeed bonding between the sealing foil and the flanged edge.

To prevent a situation in which too large a part of the sealing foil is pulled off the flanged edge, it is preferable if the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the release area is stronger over at least part of said area outside the release area than the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge within the release area, which bond is furthermore preferably of the permanent type.

The weakened zone is preferably straight, so that separating the separation part from the container will be easy. The weakened zone can for example be realised by making the material of the flanged edge thinner at the location of the weakened zone, or by perforating said material. Separating the separation part can for example take place by folding over and breaking off the separation part.

The invention can also be used very well with a package in which to outflow channels are formed in the flanged edge, in which case the interior of the container may be divided into two completely separated compartments, wherein each of the two outflow channels is in communication with one of the two compartments with one of its ends. Think in this regard of separate compartments for two sauces that are often eaten together, or for the two components of an epoxy glue.

If the container comprises only one separation part, both outflow channels can be opened by separating said one separation part and subsequently pulling off the sealing foil at the location of the release area.

Metering the contents of the package is easy for a user in particular if the container body can be manually compressed.

The package may to that end be configured as a sachet, for example. Alternatively, an upright wall of a container joining the bottom of a package may to that end have an accordion-like configuration, or in any case comprise wall parts positioned one above another, which can pivot relative to each other. Such a container body is described in Dutch patent application NL 2006515, for example, the contents of which application can be considered to be incorporated herein. In general it is noted that the shape of the container body of the package according to the invention can be freely selected. Thus, it may for example be round, oval, square or rectangular in shape, seen in top plan view, and have rounded corners, for example, and an endless upright wall of the container may be tapered. The container body may be made of a relatively stiff plastic material, for example, but also of a flexible, foil-like material in the case of a sachet-like package.

A possible method of using a container according to the invention as described above comprises the successive steps of:

-   -   providing a package according to the invention, which package is         filled with at least one fluid;     -   manually separating the separation part from the container at         the location of the weakened zone;     -   detaching the release area of the sealing foil from the flanged         edge from the weakened zone as far as the boundary line.

According to one aspect thereof, the invention also relates to the use of a package as described above.

If the sealing foil remains intact upon detachment of the release area, this may have the advantage that possible resealing will be easier, whilst in addition the package can remain one whole upon being opened.

The invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of a description of possible embodiments, not to be construed as being limitative to the scope of the present invention, of a package according to the invention, in which reference is made to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top plan view of a possible embodiment of a package according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top plan view of the package of FIG. 1 in an upside-down position;

FIG. 3 is a view of the package of FIG. 1, in which various bonding areas are shown on the flanged edge of the container;

FIG. 4 is a view of the package of FIG. 3 in an open condition;

FIG. 5 is a view of a part of another possible embodiment of the package according to the invention in an open condition; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective top plan view of yet another possible embodiment of a package according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a package 1 according to the invention. The package 1, which is of the disposable type, is for example a package for coffee creamer. The package 1 comprises a container body 2 of plastic material, such as polystyrene or polypropylene. The container body 2 is at least substantially tub-shaped, with a bottom 3 which blends into an upright wall 4 via a rounded part. The container body 2 further comprises an endless, in this case, flanged edge 5 that extends radially outward, which flanged edge joins the upper edge of the upright wall 4. The main shape and the dimensions of the container body 2 correspond to those of existing disposable packages for coffee creamer, so that the container body 2, and also the entire package 1 for that matter, can be produced with at least substantially the same production means as those used for producing existing disposable packages.

The upright wall 4 is at least substantially made up of a lower wall part 4 a and an upper wall part 4 b, which join one another at a slight inward angle at the location of an endless fold line 6. The upper wall part 4 b comprises obliquely oriented portions 7, which are provided in a regular pattern along the circumference of the upper wall part 4 b. Because of the use of the wall parts 4 a, 4 b as described above, the container body 2 tends to be compressed when a pressure force is applied thereto in axial direction as indicated by the arrow 8, resulting in the fold line 6 moving inward and the distance between the bottom 3 and the flanged edge 5 decreasing. During said deformation, the contents (not shown) of the package 1 will be pressed out, as will become clear yet hereinafter. The bottom 3 and the upright wall 4 define the interior 9 of the container body 2, which interior 9 is open on the underside of the flanged edge 5. A detailed description of the container body as the container body 2 is given in Dutch patent application NL 2006515, whose contents are to be considered incorporated herein.

The package 1 further comprises a sealing foil 10 (see also FIG. 4) which completely seals the open upper side of the container body 2 in the starting situation (in which the package 1 is filled with liquid material and is closed) and bonds to the entire upper surface of the flanged edge 5. In one embodiment (not shown) a concentric recess may be provided in the flanged edge 5, in which the sealing foil is bonded for forming a so-called cordon seal. The sealing foil may be made of plastic or aluminium, or at least comprise said materials. The circumference of the sealing foil 10 follows the circumference of the flanged edge 5. She sealing foil 10 used in FIGS. 1-3 may be considered to be transparent, so that it cannot be distinguished in said figures.

The width (or, in other words, the radial dimension) of the flanged edge 5 is constant over the larger part of the circumference of the flanged edge 5. The flanged edge 5 also has a projecting part 11, however. Within the region of the projecting part 11 the flanged edge is slightly recessed locally, so that an outflow channel 12 is formed in the flanged edge 5.

The outflow channel 12, which is covered by the sealing foil 10 in the starting situation, has an elongated shape that extends in radial direction. The end 13 of the outflow channel 12 that is directed towards the interior of 9 of the container body 2 is in open communication with the interior 9, to which end an opening 26 has been left in the upright wall 4 at the location of the outflow channel 12, more specifically the end 13 thereof. The end 14 opposite the end 13 of the outflow channel 12 is closed.

The projecting part 11 of the flanged edge 5 is further provided with a weakened zone configured as a break-off edge 15, or with a broken zone configured as a broken edge. At the location of the break-off edge 15, the material of the flanged edge 5 is thinner, so that the separation part 16 of the flanged edge 5 located on the outer side of the break-off edge 15 can be broken off the container body 2 by bending it upward about the break-off edge 15. At the broken edge, no direct contact exists between the separation part 16 and the other part of the flanged edge 5. The break-off edge 15, and also the broken edge, is rectilinear and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the outflow channel 12. The circumference of the separation part 16 is concave in shape opposite the break-off edge 15 or broken edge, so that a user holding the container body 2 with a thumb and a middle finger can easily fold the separation part 16 about the break-off edge 15 with one of his fingers, usually an index finger. If the separation part 16 is provided with a break-off edge 15, the separation part 16 can be separated from the container body 2 in this manner. The sealing foil 10 remains intact while this takes place. To realise an even better engagement of the separation part 16 by the user's (index) finger, the separation part 16 may be provided with an engagement edge 17 at the bottom side (see in particular FIG. 2), near the concave part of the circumference of the separation part 16.

FIG. 3 shows in the striped and dotted parts thereof two different types of bond of the sealing foil 10 to the upper side of the flanged edge 5. In the striped regions 21, 22, the bond is a permanent bond, which is explicitly intended not to be released upon opening of the package 1. In the dotted region 23, the bond between the flanged edge 5 and the sealing foil 10 is a releasable bond, which is explicitly intended to be released upon opening of the package 1. The region 21 concerns the upper surface of the separation part 16. The region 23 concerns a so-called release area, which extends from the break-off edge 15, in the direction of the interior 9 of the container body 2, to a straight boundary line extending parallel to and opposite the break-off edge 15. Said boundary line 24 crosses the outflow channel 12 near the end 13 thereof. The boundary line is defined by the transition between the permanent bond region and the releasable bond region. Alternatively, a boundary line may also be defined by, for example, a number of aligned spot bonds. The permanent bond in the regions 21, 22 and the releasable bond in the region 23 can be realised by using suitable glue types as known to the skilled person. A glue type that is suitable both for the regions 21, 22 and for the region 23 is a glue of the hot melt type. Different types of hot melt glue are selected for the regions 21, 22 on the one hand and for the region 23 on the other hand, so as to obtain the desired properties as regards the permanent bond in the regions 21, 22 and the releasable bond in the region 23. Preferably, the glue is applied to the sealing foil 10, after which the sealing foil 10 is bonded to the flanged edge 5 of the container body 2. The selection of the glue also depends on the material of at least the upper surface of the flanged edge 5 of the container body 2. This may be polypropylene or polyethylene, for example, or possibly polystyrene.

The open condition of the package 1 shown in FIG. 4 is realised in that a user folds the separation part 16 upward about the break-off edge 15, as a result of which the separation part 16 is detached from the container body 2, whilst a connection continues to exist between the separation part 16 and the container body 2 via the sealing foil 10. In the alternative embodiment, the separation part 16 is already separated from the container body, in that a broken zone as already described above remains. Subsequently the separation part 16 is moved along the release area 23, as a result of which the bond between the sealing foil 10 and the flanged edge 5 in the release area 23 is released and the package is not actually opened until then. This way of opening the package 1 essentially corresponds to the way in which an average user is already used to opening existing cups for coffee creamer, which cups are still being widely used at the time of the invention but which do not have an outflow channel, for example. A user will intuitively open the package 1 correctly, therefore. The user can do so with one hand, clamping the container body 2 between his thumb and his middle finger and folding over the separation part 16 with his index finger and moving it past the outflow channel 12 so as to release the bond between the sealing foil 10 and the flanged edge within the release area 23, thereby opening the package 1. Normally, the outflow channel 12 will be directed away from the user, thereby minimising the risk of liquid contents of the package being unintentionally spilled on the user, the more so because the package is not automatically opened by breaking off the separation part 16.

Beyond the boundary line 24 the bond between the sealing foil 10 and the flanged edge 15 remains intact because the bond is permanent at that location. The end 13 of the outflow channel 12 thus remains covered by the sealing foil 10, so that a relatively small passage 25, comparable as regards size with that of the opening 26, is available, through which the liquid material present in the package 1 can escape from the interior 3 of the container body 2. Partially in dependence on the size of the passage 25, this can take place under the influence of the force of gravity in that the outflow channel 12 is directed downward, but it is also possible, and often easier in practice, to compress the container body 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow 8, forcing the liquid contents of the package 1 to flow out of the package 1 via the passage 25 in a metered manner. At least in the open condition of the container, the upright wall 4 is thus preferably deformable under the influence of an axial pressure force 8 applied to the upright wall 4 for reducing the internal volume of the package 1 for the purpose of emptying the package 1 at least partially. An embodiment of a wall 4 thus configured is described, for example, in Dutch patent application NL 2006515. The inventor reserves the right to incorporate at least parts of said patent application, in particular those parts that relate to the deformable circumferential wall 4 a, 4 b, in the present patent application.

In an advantageous embodiment, the package 1, or at least the container body 2, is made of polypropylene. Such a material tends to maintain a deformation once such a deformation has been effected, that is, any elastic rebound will be minimal. The deformation will thus be maintained upon compression of the wall, so that precise metering at intervals is possible.

It may also be possible to reseal the package 1 more or less if the contents of the package 1 have not flown out completely, which resealing is done by returning the separation part to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, so that the sealing foil 10 will close the outflow channel 12 entirely again, at least to a significant degree. If desired, a type of glue by means of which the sealing foil can be reattached to the container body 2 after being released may be used for the releasable part.

In the event that the separation part 16 unintentionally becomes detached from the container body 2 in the starting situation when the package is still sealed, as might happen during rough transport, for example, the package will in fact nevertheless remain closed on account of the bonding within the region 23 of the sealing foil 10 to the flanged edge 5, as a result of which the outflow channel 12 remains covered and thus closed. Liquid contents cannot flow out of the package 1, therefore, in spite of the fact that the separation part 16 has become detached.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of the package 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4, which package comprises two outflow channels 122, which are each in communication with one end thereof with the interior of the container body in question. In a further variant of a package according to the invention, it is also conceivable for the interior of the package to be subdivided into two compartments, one outflow channel 122 being in communication with one of said two compartments and the other outflow channel 122 being in communication with the upper compartment. Elaborating on this it is also possible to use two compartments, each having their own outflow channel, which outflow channels subsequently converge into one outflow channel having a closed end. Upon opening of the package, mixing of the liquids in the two compartments already takes place in the outflow channel, therefore. Such a type of package, which comprises one outflow channel or two outflow channels, therefore, is disclosed in, for example, U.S. patent application US 2009/0114677 A1.

FIG. 6 shows another variant of the package 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same numerals. In the package shown in FIG. 6, the release area is clear of the flanged edge 5 in the direct vicinity of the outflow channel. Said free part of the release area is entirely surrounded by an area where the sealing foil bonds to the flanged edge. The bond in question may be a releasable bond between the break-off edge and the boundary line (the regions 23). Alternatively, in addition to the regions 21 and 22, the bond in the region 23 may also be a permanent bond. In this case the sealing foil will tear on both sides of the outflow channel 12, as far as the boundary line, upon opening of the package.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the possible embodiments of packages according to the invention as described in the foregoing, but is limited in the first place by the wording of the appended claims. It is explicitly noted, for example, that all kinds of configurations of the container body according to the invention are conceivable within the framework of the present invention. Thus, the package may have an oval or an angular shape, seen in top plan view, for example a square or rectangular shape, and an upright wall of a container body forming part of the package according to the invention may exhibit a certain taper in vertical direction, seen in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the package according to the invention may also be a sachet-like package, for example, in which case the flanged edge is not an endless edge, as in the embodiments described above with reference to the figures, but an edge that is provided on only one side of the sachet package. 

1. A package for a fluid, comprising a container body having an interior volume and being provided with an opening, wherein the package comprises a flanged edge near the opening, in which a recessed outflow channel is formed, which outflow channel is in communication with the interior of the container body via said opening at one end and which is closed at an opposite end, wherein a linear weakened or broken zone is provided in the flanged edge so as to make it possible to separate a separation part of the flanged edge located on the outer side of said weakened or broken zone from the container, said package further comprising a sealing foil which sealingly bonds to at least a part of the flanged edge, including the separation part thereof, which sealing foil covers the outflow channel, which outflow channel is entirely provided on the side of the weakened or broken zone remote from the separation part, wherein the sealing foil has a release area that extends on the inner side of the weakened or broken zone, within which release area at least the closed end of the outflow channel is located, wherein the release area is bounded by a boundary line located opposite the weakened or broken zone, which crosses the flow channel, wherein the sealing foil bonds to the flanged edge at the location of the release area, said bond being of the releasable type, and wherein the releasable bond of the release area is at least partially adjacent to the weakened or broken zone, wherein the sealing foil is connected to the flanged edge by a permanent bond at least at the location of the boundary line.
 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the release area is of the permanent type over at least part of said area outside the release area.
 3. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body is made of polypropylene.
 4. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body comprises an endless upright circumferential wall which, at least in an open condition of the package, is deformable under the influence of an axial pressure force applied to the circumferential wall for reducing the volume of the package for the purpose of emptying the package at least partially.
 5. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part is entirely separated from the flanged edge for thus forming the linear broken zone.
 6. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part has a circumference that extends concavely opposite the weakened or broken zone.
 7. The package according to claim 1, wherein the separation part has a circumference, and wherein the separation part has a projecting engagement edge near that part of the circumference which is located opposite the weakened zone.
 8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the boundary line extends substantially parallel to the linear shape of the weakened or broken zone.
 9. The package according to claim 1, wherein the outflow channel is oriented perpendicularly to the linear shape of the weakened or broken zone, at least at the closed end thereof.
 10. The package according to claim 1, wherein the flanged edge has a part that projects relative to the other part of the package, which projecting part comprises the separation part and which extends in the direction in which the outflow channel extends from the interior of the container body.
 11. The package according to claim 1, wherein the release area is at least partially clear of the flanged edge, wherein the release area is surrounded by a surface where there is indeed bonding between the sealing foil and the flanged edge.
 12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge outside the release area is stronger over at least part of said area outside the release area than the bond between the sealing foil and the flanged edge within the release area, which bond is furthermore preferably of the permanent type.
 13. The package according to claim 12, wherein said permanent bond has been obtained by using a cordon seal.
 14. The package according to claim 1, wherein the linear shape of the weakened or broken zone is straight.
 15. The package according to claim 1, wherein two outflow channels are formed in the flanged edge.
 16. The package according to claim 15, wherein the interior of the container is divided into two completely separated compartments, wherein each of the two outflow channels is in communication with one of the two compartments with one of its ends.
 17. The package according to claim 15, wherein the container has only one separation part.
 18. The package according to claim 1, wherein the container body is manually compressible.
 19. The use of a package according to claim
 1. 20. The use according to claim 19, wherein the sealing foil remains intact when the release surface is detached. 